An irrigation system of a province is a network of canals, reservoirs, pumps, and other structures designed to supply water to agricultural lands for crop cultivation. It involves the management of water resources within the province to ensure optimal utilization for agriculture, while considering factors like rainfall patterns, water availability, and land topography. These systems can range from small-scale traditional methods like wells and tanks to large-scale modern projects involving dams and extensive canal networks. They play a crucial role in food security, economic growth, and rural development of the province.
Sabaragamuwa Province, located in the southwest of the island, ranks 8th in terms of size. With an area of 4968 sq km, the province accounts for 7.6% of the total land area of the island. Sabaragamuwa Province consists of the main administrative districts of Ratnapura and Kegalle. Ratnapura district is 3275 square kilometers in size, and 5% of the total land area of the island belongs to it.
Compared to that, Kegalle district claims 1693 square kilometers, which is only 2.6% of the total land area of the island. Regarding the administrative structure, Ratnapura district consists of 18 divisional secretariat divisions and Kegalle district consists of 11 divisional secretariat divisions. The annual average rainfall in Ratnapura and Kegalle districts is between 2000-3360 mm and 2500-3000 mm respectively. Due to the location of this province in such a range of rainfall, all the climatic conditions of Sri Lanka are found here.
Accordingly, it is special that there is a potential for cultivation of crops specific to the upper country, middle country and low country in this province. About 70% of the province population of two million live in rural areas and subsistence agriculture is their main livelihood. A large percentage of them have turned to farming.
Paddy cultivation in Sabaragamuwa province is mainly fed by major irrigation systems, minor irrigation systems and rainfed. There are 116 small tank systems, 1777 canals and 895 dykes in Ratnapura district. Also, there are 29 small tank systems, 1383 canals and 1759 dykes in Kegalle district. These minor irrigation systems are under the Department of Agricultural Services and the development and maintenance of those projects are under the Provincial Lands and Agriculture Ministry of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council as per the 13th Constitutional Amendment.
